Hub City Times

Top Menu

  • Contact Us
  • E-Editions
  • Subscribe

Main Menu

  • Home
  • News
    • Around the County
    • Arts & Ent
    • Education
    • Government
    • Local
    • Police / Sheriff Calls
  • Covid 19
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • Sports News
    • High School Sports Scores
    • Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
  • Coming Events
  • Business
  • Obits
  • Classifieds
  • Military Photos
  • Contact Us
  • E-Editions
  • Subscribe

logo

Hub City Times

  • Home
  • News
    • Around the County
    • Arts & Ent
    • Education
    • Government
    • Local
    • Police / Sheriff Calls
  • Covid 19
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • Sports News
    • High School Sports Scores
    • Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
  • Coming Events
  • Business
  • Obits
  • Classifieds
  • Military Photos
FeaturedSports
Home›Featured›Set it, kill it; Marshfield couple helps organize major tournament

Set it, kill it; Marshfield couple helps organize major tournament

By Julie Schooley
July 8, 2019
843
0
Share:
SP-VBall Tourney-1-190710
The Waupaca Boatride Volleyball Tournament will be held July 12-14, at Brighton Acres in Oshkosh. Michael Gomez photo courtesy of the Waupaca Boatride Volleyball Tournament

By Hub City Times staff

MARSHFIELD – A Marshfield area couple is instrumental in planning one of the world’s largest competitive volleyball tournaments.

Kurt and Katie Officer joined the tournament committee in 1992, when team registrations totaled less than 100.

“I was not on the team in ’84 to start the tournament,” Kurt recalled. “My first year of playing was ’92 in Waupaca. It was about 75 teams then.”

Joining the tournament committee around 1998, they helped introduce a website for registration.

From there, the Officers have seen the tournament outgrow several host locations as it evolved into the immense sporting event it is today.

The tournament began in the mid-1980s at a more incidental location in Waupaca.

“… it used to be held in Waupaca and we would rent a boat from one of the local bars – to tour the chain of lakes after the tournament,” explained Kurt. “Therefore ‘Waupaca Boatride’ – and the name has stuck.”

The Waupaca Boatride (WBR) Volleyball Tournament, also known today as the U.S. Open of Grass Volleyball, continued to grow and at first, Kurt said the committee struggled to find a good location for the mushrooming tournament.

“For many years finding a suitable and central location was the biggest challenge,” Kurt stated. “Since moving to Brighton Acres in 2013, WBR has truly found a home and a partner that indeed wants to help grow the tournament. Adam Tigert- the Brighton Acres owner – is truly a partner.”

The tournament is now noted as the “world’s largest outdoor volleyball tournament,” welcoming teams from 30 plus states and three countries on 300 volleyball courts, sometimes including Division 1 collegiate and Olympic players.

What began as a doubles tournament, now welcomes doubles, triples, and quads.

Along with the players come thousands of spectators, estimated at 15,000. The influx of tourists earned the tournament recognition as a 2018 Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism, making them one of five sports events to be honored in the country.

The event also features camping and nightly entertainment on the grounds.

This year’s tournament, the 35th running, will be held at Brighton Acres, 4057 Fish Ave., Oshkosh, July 12-14. As of July 5, Officer said the tournament had nearly 1,800 teams,

“It’s a family reunion for volleyball players,” Kurt said. “You see people once a year- and it very well may be at the Waupaca Boatride.”

TagsWaupaca Boatride Volleyball Tournament
Previous Article

MAPS Pets of the Week: Meet Aileen, ...

Next Article

Pride sweeps Wisconsin Rapids Junior Legion tourney

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • Maureen Cassidy Courtney Buss Alexa Aumann Alison Spindler Waupaca Boatride Volleyball Tournament U16 division
    Sports

    Local group of high school players third in division at Waupaca Boatride Volleyball Tournament

    July 15, 2015
    By Hub City Times
  • Marshfield Tigers logo
    Sports

    Stevens Point blanks Marshfield boys soccer in Tigers’ WVC opener

    September 1, 2017
    By Hub City Times
  • Marshfield Tigers logo
    Sports

    Schwanebeck-Ostermann wins title, Marshfield wrestling takes fourth at Richland Center Invite

    December 20, 2015
    By Hub City Times
  • BusinessFeatured

    MACCI unveils new branding, hands out annual awards

    January 30, 2020
    By Julie Schooley
  • Peaceful protest
    FeaturedLocalNews

    Hundreds gather in downtown Marshfield for peaceful protest

    June 3, 2020
    By Hub City Times
  • Colby Greenwood Boys
    FeaturedSports

    Colby routs Greenwood

    December 12, 2018
    By Hub City Times

About Us


Hub City Times is published by Multi Media Channels LLC, N2919 County Road QQ Waupaca, WI 54981.

Timeline

  • January 27, 2021

    City buildings restrictions extended 60 days

  • January 26, 2021

    Relief in sight; Central Wisconsin seniors eager to roll up their sleeves

  • January 25, 2021

    Central Wisconsin schools go solar

  • January 24, 2021

    Are snow days now a thing of the past in Marshfield?

  • January 23, 2021

    MACCI turns 75: Part III Changing names

Find us on Facebook

Copyright © 2020 Multi Media Channels, All Rights Reserved. Designed by MMC Team Awesome
×